Making a magazine for an iconic album release

For the release of 'Blonde', Frank Ocean wanted a print magazine, 'Boys Don't Cry', to go with the music. It needed strong editing, careful production and a lot of high-profile people pulling in the same direction, so it could stand next to the album.

We were brought in to help edit the magazine, commissioning contributors and shaping features to fit Ocean's vision. We managed the print production and worked closely with management at Three Six Zero and Roc Nation.

The whole thing had to stay secret, and on budget, ahead of a carefully planned global release.

'Boys Don't Cry' came out in August 2016 through a series of surprise drops around the world. It became an instant collector's item and helped 'Blonde' sell 275,000 copies in its first week.